Premier League News, Daily Ticker: Sept. 3

English captain Steven Gerrard has defended Fabio Capello ahead of England’s first Euro qualifiers versus Bulgaria and Switzerland, calling the cries for his ousting “crazy.”

“It’s important Fabio is still given a chance. Who out there, that’s an English manager, has the CV Fabio Capello has got?” said Gerrard, referring to the popular opinion in the British media that the Three Lions’ next manager should be English. “It would be a knee-jerk reaction to sack a manager after one bad tournament then think everything will be rosy when you start with a new guy and we’ll go on and win the Euros. That’s crazy.”

Gerrard also hinted that Capello would not change his traditional 4-4-2 formation. “Criticism doesn’t seem to affect him,” he said. “He’s not changed. His routines are similar, training’s similar. We’ve been through the mistakes we made and the things we need to do to improve.

Eriksson Interviews For Villa Job

Former English manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has been interviewed as a potential successor to Martin O’Neill at Aston Villa.

ESPN Soccernet is reporting that Eriksson, who was also a candidate for the Fulham position before it went to Mark Hughes, met with Villa this week. Eriksson’s representatives refused to confirm or deny the negotiations are taking place.

Eriksson is reportedly on the top of Villa’s shortlist, which includes Alan Curbishley, Ronald Koeman, Gianfranco Zola and Gerard Houllier, all of whom, save Koeman, have coached in the EPL before.

Carragher Close To Contract Extension

Liverpool are close to signing an extension with 32-year-old vice-captain Jamie Carragher.

Carragher, who was left out of England’s Euro qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland, has been at Anfield for 14 years.

“I have spoken to the managing director, Christian Purslow, and we’ve had a good chat about the new contract. I’m sure it will happen,” said Carragher yesterday. “The most important thing was for the club to get the ins and outs sorted before the transfer deadline. That’s done now so I’m sure we will have something sorted out in the next week or two.”